Engine Trouble Forces Plane to Land on State Route 52

A small plane that took off from Gillespie Field Saturday afternoon experienced engine trouble just after take-off and made an emergency landing on state Route 52, avoiding any injuries, according to the Highway Patrol.

The pilot and a passenger took off around 6 p.m., and the flight ended not long after when the pilot was able to safely land the plane in the westbound lanes of state Route 52 near state Route 125, said Highway Patrol Officer Brian Pennings.

There was no damage to the plane from the landing and the pilot was able to avoid hitting any vehicles on the highway, Pennings said.

The plane was moved off the roadway and is being dismantled to be towed away.

No details were released on the type of plane involved, the pilot’s name or the flight’s destination.